Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Valverde down!

Alejandro Valverde, the Spanish leader of the Caisse-d'Epargne-Illes Balears team, went down hard on the Dutch road today (probably from a wheel touch in mid-peleton) and seems to have a clavicle injury bad enough to cause him to withdraw. A horrible break for a top rider forecast to have done well in the overall standings in the Tour. He was taken off in an ambulance, bringing the field down to 172.

The podium spots for the 2006 Tour are more open than ever. Anything can happen!